Blumenthal wants Metro-North to provide more info on strikes

Thursday

Jan 2, 2014 at 12:23 PMJan 2, 2014 at 5:10 PM

The Associated Press

HARTFORD — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Thursday urged the Metro-North Railroad to notify local authorities anytime one of its trains hits an object, saying a recent accident demonstrates a "continued failure" in the railroad's safety policies.

Annette White, a 46-year-old Maine resident who had been living in Connecticut, was apparently struck and killed by a train on Dec. 26. Her body was found the following day in the Saugatuck River near the tracks.

Metro-North officials said the train crew made an emergency stop after striking something on a bridge, notified the railroad's traffic control and searched the area, but did not find any indication that a person had been struck.

Blumenthal said in a letter to Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Thomas Prendergast that train crews should also notify local authorities local police anytime they strike something on the tracks.

"This tragic incident demonstrates dramatically a continued failure in safety policies and culture. Basic common sense and professional protocols should require immediate notification of MTA police, local authorities and possibly emergency responders," Blumenthal wrote.

Metro-North spokeswoman Marjorie Anders said the railroad followed its protocols on Dec. 26.

"Metro-North inspects trains after striking objects, which occurs an average of once or twice a week," she said.

Metro-North is the subject of a federal safety assessment and has been increasing scrutiny of its conductors in the wake of several accidents, including a Dec. 1 derailment in New York that killed four people.